The Kids of Asemkow

The kids in Ghana are full of life. In all of my travels, they are some of the most happiest, proud and beautiful kids I’ve ever met. And they love to have their photos taken as you will quickly see. I just returned from a 2 week stint photographing with Me to We in small villages along the ocean coast of Ghana. I was tagging along with a great bunch of high school students from Hunstville that were helping build a school for these very kids in Asemkow. The following is a first set of photos from the trip that I will publish. Many more to come.

Sharing is sexy:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

Published by Ryan Bolton

Ryan is a Toronto-based writer and photographer that likes to break the rules. His work has taken him around the world to do what he truly loves—storytelling. And drinking cold beer.
View all posts by Ryan Bolton

Hi Giulia, I am glad to hear you mention such a powerful meaning that photos portray , In many cases the images that are coming out of Africa on international medias , images of suffering Africa embaded in so many people’s mind , it’s nice to
see there are places where the future looks blight in Africa.

Ryan!! These are absolutely stunning! Thank you for being such an inspiration to all of us on Huntsville’s Team Ghana! You are not only an outstanding photographer and story teller, but an equally outstanding person. Beard and all. Looking forward to the rest of your photos!

So much life in those eyes. Beautiful and natural. I love children’s smiles. I teach first grade, and my favourite moments- hands down- are the moments where I randomly make eye contact with one of them, and we both smile at eachother, and it is always a perfect moment, often in the most imperfect circumstances. A child’s smile is so powerful and free and rewarding. Thank you for capturing and sharing that!

Wonderful photos! I have been eyeing that region of the world for years along with Gabon and Liberia. Surfing is my vice (I used to skate too) and there are many great breaks in that region looking to be discovered.

As for the kids…they seem to be very happy and vibrant. I hope to step foot there sometime soon.

Photo essays like this are a proof that humanity is still not lost. Beautiful smiles from those kids are very contagious as I can’t help but also to smile myself. Thank for making my day! I really hope you have more photo essays like this.

Ryan, these kids and your photos are gorgeous! I lived in Khartoum, Sudan and you would love those kids too – not quite so exuberant – a bit more reserved, but gorgeous nonetheless. Congrats on the FP – richly deserved! All the best, Terri

This brings back memories of my own time in Ghana, in 1980. Even then, with the economy in shambles, the children were a joy. They are well-loved by their parents and larger community and it shows in their open faces and sparkling eyes.

This is so great, these pictures just make any viewer so happy, as you must already know. I’ve never really thought about photography as a career. Travel and photography, and perhaps getting to help a few people along the way. Sounds like something i may want to look into. Thanks for these.

well, if i have a chance, i may name every image you posted about them.. now. bc i liked to watch smiles and i see the same of look to children in my country somewhere.. from highland may be. exactly, there was several photographers that came and photographed children here, and emotion images were born.

Reblogged this on jasminamadis and commented:
I saw this and this makes my dream look so beautiful. I can’t wait to visit children and people like this around the world. These children are so happy with they’re lives. That’s so beautiful. I loved this blog because this is exactly what I want to do in life.

There may be a magic stage in life, about 6 or 7 years into the game, before all the complications begin. Even in places that put up with more than the middle classes of rich countries do. Although my understanding is that Ghana has usually been relatively stable and prosperous among west African nations. I hope they’re enjoying school.

Holy cats, Ryan – these are AMAZING!!! What a treat to the eyes. What gorgeous people. You can just read the innocence and goodness in their eyes. You are so blessed to have these experiences and I hope that you continue to capture them for all the rest of us. Thanks for sharing, Ryan. 🙂

Reblogged this on lovehappinessandpeace and commented:
A Tiny Country like Ghana is faring Better than India. The photos speak for themselves. It is not just the Smiles. The Young MAN carrying that plastic thing on his head with a smile, that is what We cannot see in India. The Indian Leadership has Failed.

I stumbled across your old article disparaging World Vision and their portrayal of need in the developing world. WV invests in communities for a couple of decades at least; wells and water, crops and fields, schools and libraries, and skill development for residents, all part of the real story. Perhaps you didn’t see the whole story.
Africa is indeed magnificent and the people are good, industrious folks; they work harder and longer days than we do. Your pictures of happy kids are nice, but without help, most of them won’t finish the 6th grade because their parents can’t afford it. You know the rest.
We’ve supported WV for more than 40 years and sponsored families through difficult times, kids through school and college, and community development projects, all fairly successful so far.
I was on the ground in five African countries, off and on for several years, and the children greeted us just like they did you. We went a step further and joined their families (they adopted us) and continue intimately connected today. The kids are grown and have families of their own, and we still correspond. They’ve made us part of the family and never asked for anything. Because we have the connection, we get to help with tuition and meds and seeds for crops, with home building, with school construction projects (2), and specific intervention during hard times. Over the years, we and our friends have been able to help many families make their way forward. My daughter used her tax refund to help a family buy their home and avoid eviction. All easy stuff.
So about those cute pictures of African kids … are you still connected to them and their families? Are you doing anything to help them along? Or are you just using your pictures of them for whatever?
No one remembers what we say. If we’re remembered at all, it will be for what we did that made a difference. Interested?